Crystal River current., 1887-09-10
On the Downward Path.

General Grant is one of the Oldest
hack drivers in Chicago. His name,
according to the Chicago News, is not
Grant, but that is the name he is known
under-presumably because In his
younger days. he looked like the famous
statesman soldier. Well, he is in sore
trouble now, all on account of the horse
he has been driving for the last eight
years.
THAT boss is thirteen yers DID," said
Grant, "and I've had him SO long that
it seems like he was brother or re-
lation O some kind. Nobody else could
drive him like could; he understood
me and 1 understood him-we got along
fust-rate. About three months ago
changed my stand from Dearborn street
around to State street in front of the
Palmer House. Business doomed and
everything went we'll until one day last.
April-it was on Thursday, / re-
collect, for on the same day l bought a
now harness for the boss. WAL, that
very same day along come a gang of the
raggedest little newsboys you ever see,
and began to play marbles on the side
walk alongside of where my cab was
standin'. At first the boss, didn't notice
EN-, but by m by his 'tention was at
tracted by the noise, an he looked round.
Likely as not he had never seen game
OF marbles afore, for bosses ism par
ticularly observin' critters. At any
rate. it was clear that he was amused
an fascinated-I could see that by the
expression into his eyes. He laid his
ears forward kind of attentive like, and
watched them boys as earnest as any
growed-up man you ever saw. Ever
since that day that boss has been struck
On marbies-jest insane on the subject.
l have tired to drive the newsboys off'n
the pavement. but, Lor's sakes! it amt
no use rysn'; don't own the pave
ment, and they've just as much right
to it as hev. But the horse is ruined.
and marbles has done it. There he
stands gawpin' at them boys for hours
at time. When a party comes along
as wants to ride:
'Carriage?' says Nice. clean cat
an rapid hoss.'
"'Get out. says they. that boss is
sick. Jest see how his eyes look, and
wot's the matter with him that he
twists his head around so p
as can do to get the darned boss away
from the stand-he wants to hang
around and see'em play marbles. Then
he's in hurry to get back; or. If he
strikes n game of marbles anywhere
along the line of our trip. bless my eyes
eff he doesn't shy up to the sidewalk
and want to watch the proceedings
Il took him the veter' naran's t. 9TH
er day." continued Grant. 1.-THE vet
er'narian bled him an physicked him
an looked him all over.
Grant says he at first. 4 don't
know what ails your boss. but pears to
me like some insijious vice was sappin'
his system an a-preyin' on his vitals
He hez all the symptoms of sof min of
the brain; eff he wasn't boss I'd say
he was board O. trade man who had
been dealin' in pork an wheat.
"'It's them marbles seq I, and then
l told the veter' marian all about it and
asked: is it too late to save imp
HE kind O. shook his head, Its a
hard thing to save boss when he gifts
on the downward path sez he. Hos
ses is a good deal like men; eff they
oncet get int bad habits it's hard to
break up. l have heard that Mayor
Roche was goin' to stop all gamblin'
in Chicago; if he does. whv, of course,
them boys can't play marbles for keeps
no more. an that'll do away with the
vice as is imparin' the usefulness of
this ERE boss. But ii the mayor don't
keep his word there amt nothin' I
knows on as will restore your boss to
healthy. moral an business-like way o.
thinkin'.''